Fire Risk Assessments

New Fire Safety regulations came into force on 1st October 2006. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 replaces over 70 pieces of fire safety law.

The Order applies to all non-domestic premises in England and Wales, including the common parts of blocks of flats or houses of multiple occupation (HMO’s).

Who is legally bound by the New Regulations?

The law applies to you if you are:-

๏ Responsible for business premises.
๏ An employer or self-employed with business premises.
๏ Responsible for a part of a dwelling where that part is solely used for business purposes.
๏ A charity or voluntary organisation.
๏ A contractor with a degree of control over any premises.

How do you comply?

Under the Order, regardless of whether you hold a valid Fire Certificate or not, if you employ one or more persons you must now carry out a comprehensive fire safety risk assessment. Furthermore, if five or more people are employed, the fire risk assessment must be fully documented and made available to the enforcing Fire Brigade when the building is randomly inspected.

What is a Fire Risk Assessment?

Risk Assessment is a systematic look at potential sources of fire in your entire workplace, the danger that fire possesses to those who use the workplace and how the risk and spread of fire can be minimised. The five steps of a Fire Risk Assessment are:-

1.Identify the fire hazards in the workplace.
2.Decide who could be harmed in the event of a fire.
3.Evaluate the risks and decide whether existing precautions are adequate.
4.If five or more people are employed, record and document your findings.
5.Review and revise when changes in the workplace are made to ensure that fire precautions are still effective and appropriate to the risks.

“Ocean Fire Protection” has a UK wide network of Fire Risk Assessment Consultants, and can work with you to carry out the assessment to make your workplace safer and compliant with the new Fire Regulations. The Consultancy approach is fully documented and carries with it ample professional indemnity to offer you peace of mind.